Product for the treatment of the alimentary canal



Patented Ann, 1939 2 170321 UNITED STATES PATENT dFFwE PRODUCT FOR THE TREATMEITT OF THE AIJIVIENTARY CANAL Mortimer Bye, Cincinnati, Ohio No Drawing. Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,183

2 Claims. (01. 167--56l It is estimated that perhaps 90% of the ills companies such expulsion. To overcome this of humanity are occasioned directly or indirectly condition, mineral oil is taken with the thought from disturbances of the intestinal tract. that the oil will mix with these masses, and

Chronic or occasional constipation is prevalent that it will stimulate ease of bowel movement.

5 among all races and all ages, and inasmuch as These results fail to occur frequently. The min- 5 the lives of most people are becoming more 'eral oil, taken at night, when the body functions and more sedentary, real exercise being more are most nearly at rest, tends to seep through and more uncommon, the eating of rich foods the intestines instead of mixingwith the intesat untimely hours, irregular and inadequate tinal contents. Lubrication eflects produced are sleeping periods,;and lack of habit'in caring for chiefly surface lubrication effects, and the one 10 5? functions. all tend to the disturbing 0 function of the oil is so restricted that it may nflrmal digestive Processes, Wherefore fl pp prove of doubtful value. That the oil seeps to be cal a d r as t p t h t s through the intestines and around the masses condition will become more and moreprevalent. is recognized by l users of mineral n, d

Authoritative medical opinionisopposed to the n w familiar t t ,highly Pmmiscuous use laxPtives- In many cases jectionable 1eakage"which cannot be controlled. abdominal pain, laxatives are contra-indicated, I 'rhelogical way to administer such on would and may Produce fatal results- Neverthelws, be to take it during and shortly after meals. the"? are numerous laxative im oflered and on. retiring, in relatively small amounts.

Sale and it is to be expected Qthat the Public Such a method would insure that during the w l be offered this type of Product and h processes of digestion, namely, at the most acmmims 0f Wars will be Spent annually by the tive periods of our daily work this oil would public on products of this character, until and be intimately m with the 'contents of the "mess some real 111mm is Presentedintestines at all times. Such o1l-containing mat- 2 Mineral oil, while not acting as a laxative, would not tend to pack in m masses, ease however recognized as one of the Safest of evacuation would-increaseQnature would not agents for relieving to some extent, the condibe compelled to expel toxin-containing matter tron of ChlOlllC or occasional constlpation. Minat the ex use or me {and unnecessary eral oil, or emulsions of such oils exert their actions simply as lubricants. These exhibit no may fummns' and the seepage be more adequately controlled. Seton method of therapeutic effect anddo not increase peristaltic action. In other words, they do not spur d m i on nP n up the intestinal musouiatures to excessive-ac and mfm!mil fiufi i would. tivity, and therefore do not produce the harmt w i w an almost ful efiects which might be caused by laxative im lam W wish agents of a drastic physiological nature. However, the present method of administering minl'nforder to obviate cases 'of constipation,- eral oil or emulsions of the-same, is not a rational gamer chronic w e, it is desirable to nor dnes such d i t t produce t v encourage peristalsis of the intestines. In order best results. Usually the patient takes a dose 1 accomplish this d in Order to Obtain a notof mineral oil at night before-retiring expectg o and y functioning of the intestinal c ing this to mix with the contents of th i -it is desirable that a considerable mass of sub-" 7 a testinal tract, thereby permitting of greater ease I 81981108 b be W ed o be supp t0 e of evacuation. Disappointing results are bound est ies, and that this material or substance 451 to occur frequently, apd the reason for h 7 gbelng worked on in the intestines, shall have the disappointments may be due in part to the fact 3 fa'culty or power of absorbing moisture. In view g at during the daytime hours, meals have been the dlmculties P s y erated and in eaten, digestive processes have been working at b nnection with the work that I have done in' maximum activity, and waste products of (11- seeking to solve in a simple and easy manner, gesticn have been accumulating and packing in the situation as confronts the large majority of the intestinal tract. In the case of individuals humans, I have discovered and absolutely esare subject to constipation, this was'tetends tablished that by producing awafer or cake-like to form into hard compact masses, dimcult of product comprising agar-agar and mineral oil,

emulsion from the body. Severe pain often ac- I attained excellent results, and, moreover, so n 5 ,would give the most satisfactory results.-

product is highly effective for effecting normal intestinal condition and action.

It is preferred that in producing a wafer or cookie comprising agar-agar and mineral oil, that some binder such as flour be admixed therewith, and that suitable flavoring matter be also employed. A cake, wafer, or tablet produced of substance of the character indicated, may be eaten as part of an ordinary meal or immediately thereafter, thereby obtaining an intermixing of the product or composition with the food, asit passes through the intestine. During that period there would be a gradual breaking down of the structure of the cake or tablet due to the digestive processes, whereby there would be a gradual liberation of the mineral oil which would be admixed throughout the fecal matter that would prevent the compacting previously referred to and which compacting is essentially a condition common to constipation. Moreover, the effect of the body heat while the cookie or tablet is in the intestines would likewise assist in gradual liberation of the oil from the agar-agar or other oil of like character, with the result that as the oil is liberated from the agar-agar or similar material, there would be a moisture absorption which would create a swelling or expanding of the agar-agar or similar material,

, whereby to create a condition that medical science sible to regulate and control the size of the cakes or wafers, thereby making it possible for each person'to readily determine what a proper dose is for his particular anatomical condition, that The indicated gradual liberationof the oil in the intestinesa'is occasioned by reason of the fact that particles of the wafer or cookie ofappreciable size-will pass through the stomach and only in the intestines will they be gradually disintegrated.

. tially resemble the cereals or so-called breakfast foods such as corn flakes and the like, and in such form the substance may be eaten with cream or fruit as is common with cereal foods of the character indicated.

The reference to cereals herein, is not limited to the so-called breakfast foods, but is intended also to indicate thatflour obtained from various grains is generally referred to. as a cereal product and as such, constitutes a suitable and satisfactory binder for producing units or integral wafer-like products. While I recognize the fact that there have been made heretofore emulsions comprising agar-agar and mineral oil, such preparations are not contemplated within the terms unit or integral mass as I use those terms herein. It is my intention to obviate the administration of emulsions and the like, of the character indicated, wherein dosage, ordinarily by means .of spoons, is necessary and which method of administration is obnoxious or nausewherefore substantially the same body reactions are obtained as are attained by the administration of mineral oil alone. Those emulsions previously referred to, comprising agar-agar and mineral oil are no different in this regard from any other emulsions comprising mineral oil. The apparently critical distinction between my invention and emulsions comprising agar-agar and mineral oil is that the period necessary for separation of the mineral oil from the agar-agar and other substances that are used in producing the product of the invention precludes accumulation of quantities of mineral oil that will seep through and from the intestines. Instead, as the minute particles of mineral oil are released from my product, such particles are so intimately associated as small minute particles, with the fecal matter in the intestine and with the agar-agar or like material which gradually swells by reason of the absorption of water of digestive juices and/or fluids, found in the intestinal tract, that the formation of bodies of mineral oil, even though. of comparatively small size, is precluded. The result is that effective lubrication of the intestinal walls, as well as of the fecal matter itself, is attained, thereby obviating constipation or conditions approximating constipation.

In some instances the condition of a patient may be such that some cathartic or laxative reaction is necessary. My invention therefore contemplates that there may be admixed with my composition matter heretofore described, suitable laxative, for example, phenolphthalein. A product comprising such laxative would ordinarily be utilized in connection with acute cases of constipation and aggravated cases of chronic constipation, the laxative agent serving to initiate I the abnormal condition of peristalsis previously referred to in order to effect evacuation of the impacted masses previously formed in the intestines. While ordinarily the use of laxatives accomplishes first, an abnormal peristalsis or intestinal musculation which might be termed excessive activity, and it is to be therefore expected that such period of excessive activity will be followed by a period of subnormal activity, during such period of subnormal activity, it is to be expected that a process of impacting or compacting will follow the condition of subnormal intestinal activity. Following administration of my said product, there will not result an intestinal condition that is as severe or objectionable as would follow cases where ordinary laxatives will be used, because the minute particles of mineral oil distributed throughout the fecal matter that is formed after the impacted masses are advanced by reason of the use of my product, prevents the/ fecal matter from assuming the condition of hardness that results in ordinary cases of chronic constipation. After a period of time, the product containing a laxative may be totally discontinued and then my product, free of laxative, is utilized for attaining and maintaining normal peristalsis and intestinal musculation.

While I have referred herein to mineral oil, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit the term to any one of the various so-called mineral oils that medical science has found efiicacious and suitable for internal administration to humans and also by reference to agar-agar, it is not intended to limit the product to one comprising agar-agar as the sole carrier of the mineral oils. Agar-agar is referred herein because it is typical of a number of substances including psyllium seed, which have the faculty of absorbing and expanding or swelling in the presence of fluids such as water or water-containing fluids. My invention is therefore to be understood as contemplating that the composition of my invention comprises a mineral oil, a substance of the class of agar-agar and/or psyllium seed hav ing the ability to carry mineral oil and to release the same under the influence of the digestive processes of the human body, together with a suitable binder, of mucilaginous or like character,

for example, flour, or some glutinous component of flour, that will not interfere with, but will respond to the digestive processes of the stomach so as to gradually disintegrate and to thereby release the agar-agar or like material, to the digestive fluids so that the m neral oil may in turn be gradually released so that the fluids of the stomach may in turn beabsorbed by the agaragar or like material.

While I have referred to agar-agar and psyllium seed as examples of substances that may be used, it is intended to make evident and clear that other substances of like characteristics may be used, I prefer using agar-agar because both agar-agar and mineral oil have no physiological action on the intestines. Laxatives generally do have a physiological action, namely, laxatives create more than normal activity of the intestines resulting in evacuation to some extent, followed by periods of subnormal activity, during which periods of subnormal activity the constipational con dition is recreated. Psyllium seed has a mild laxative effect and for this reason I consider agaragar preferable, except that in the form of my invention where a. laxative agent is desired, and a in connection with which I mentioned the use of a phenolphthalein, or other laxative, it might be desirable to use psyllium seed in preference to agar-agar. The advantages of these various substances in view of these variant characteristics, are readily appreciated by the medical profession and to that extent it will be readily evident that these various substances are equivalents to a substantial degree or extent. A

Some of the products that I have made and had made and embodying the invention comprise the following composition:

,Teaspoonfuls Mineral oil 40 Agar-agar 40 Glucose 15 Sugar 13 Cocoa, powder 12 Salt, approximately V4,

Flour 180 Vanilla extract 2 The indicated amounts of materials would be mixed together for producing a dough-like substance and should make about forty cookies or tablets. These cookies or tablets are made by forming the dough-like substance in suitable bake pans or upon a suitable bake pan, and are baked in substantially the same way that bakery goods are treated.

By using the indicated amount of admixed substances to make fortycookies, it is obvious that each cookie will contain-approximately one teaspoonful of mineral oil and one teaspoonful of agar-agar. These amounts would constitute an average dose that would be adequate lubrication for the ordinary person, assuming that one such cookie would be eaten during or after a meal. The cookies are. tasty and palatable either eaten alone or witha meal.

In some instances I have used tapioca flour instead of the wheat flour referred to in the preceding formula. It would be readily obvious that oatmeal might likewise be used, and that by reason of the glutinous nature of the oatmeal, the use of any other binders might be obviated. It is therefore to be understood that in the appended claims insofar as there is specific reference to binders, it is to be understood thatthe inherent glutinous binder material that may be present in various cereals discloses that part of the appended claims calling for a binder.

The agar-agar and psyllium seed may be in any of various forms, for example, they may be pulverized, shredded or otherwise.

I found that the cookies or tablets made by me and which were made in accordance with the disclosures herein, present a very good appearance, withstand rough treatment, and do not deteriorate under varying climatic conditions. The products made according to the foregoing formula were free from oily appearance, as well as being free from oily taste.

What is claimed is:

1. A dry edible cooky comprising approximately equal parts of agar-agar and mineral oil, and a binder.

2. A baked dry edible product of substantially the following composition and proportions, viz: 

